AMES, Iowa (AP) - With its smothering zone defense, Iowa State beat Texas
Tech at its own game.

Angie Welle has 18 points and 13 rebounds as No. 14 Iowa State held
sixth-ranked Texas Tech to its second-lowest point total in program history in
a 62-37 victory Sunday.

Tech (10-1) has thrived on defense this season and held Iowa State (9-2) 21
points below its scoring average while forcing 25 turnovers in the Big 12
opener. But 23.8 percent shooting doomed the Lady Raiders to their worst loss
since Tennessee beat them 81-44 Nov. 27, 1995.

"We were so prepared for them," Welle said. "We watched so much film. We
knew everything they were going to do on offense. I think half the time we beat
them to the spot because we knew the plays."

Unable to get the ball inside, Tech was relegated to casting up outside
shots that did not fall. Melinda Pharies missed her first 10 shots and finished
1-for-13. Tech's other starting guard, Katrisa O'Neal, was 4-for-18 and the
Lady Raiders went 3-for-21 on 3-pointers.

The only time a Tech team scored fewer points in a game was in a 106-30 loss
to Wayland Baptist in 1975-76, the school's first season of women's basketball.

"I don't think you're going to go anywhere in the Big 12 and win shooting
the basketball as poorly as we did," Tech coach Marsha Sharp said. "At the
same time, I think you have to give Iowa State credit. They did a great job of
finding the shooters and putting a hand in their face."

Desiree Francis scored 14 points for Iowa State, which shot 51 percent and
constantly got the ball inside for layups or beat the Lady Raiders down the
floor on fast breaks.

Stacy Frese added 11 points and Tracy Gahan keyed the Cyclones' defense with
three steals and three blocks while scoring six points and handing out five
assists.

"We scouted them pretty hard and felt ... the one thing they're not doing
well at this point is shooting the perimeter shot," Iowa State coach Bill
Fennelly said. "We were trying to force perimeter shots."

O'Neal led Tech with 11 points and Keitha Dickerson scored 10. Freshman
center Plenette Pierson, leading the Lady Raiders with a 14.6 scoring average,
got only one shot and went scoreless.

"I think Angie did a good job not letting her get to the block," Francis
said. "That's the basic thing - don't let the post player get where they want
to go."

The game was an ideal opener to Big 12 play, matching two-time defending
champion Tech against this season's favorite. But Tech missed its first five
shots, Iowa State jumped to a 10-1 lead and the Cyclones were in control
throughout.

Iowa State closed the first half with a 9-2 run to go up 33-20, and
stretched the lead to 45-22 early in the second half with a 10-0 burst
highlighted by a four-point play by Frese, who was slapped in the wrist by
O'Neal as she sank a 3-pointer and then made the free throw.

Tech had just one field goal to show for the first 7:43 of the second half,
then scored seven straight points to cut the lead to 45-29 as Iowa State went
scoreless for five minutes. But the Lady Raiders made only three more baskets
the rest of the game.

"We didn't shoot well," Pharies said. "If that's not happening, it's
going to frustrate you no matter how good of defense you're playing."